Page 16 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)

16

“ T he poor lass still abed?” Nan asked, frowning as they sat at the dinner table together. “Has food been brought to her?”

“Aye, I made sure of it,” Lucas said, fresh from a long bath and feeling more energized now that steaming hot food was in front of him.

A few days on the road had provided less than bountiful and delicious meals.

“Good.” She was done talking to him with rancor now, after he’d listened to her tirade for about as long as he thought it would be. “Now that ye are back, I think ye will play a proper host to our guest. She has been doin’ well here though, Lad. She seems resigned to her new fate now.”

“That’s good, Nan,” Lucas said, distracted by the path of his plans. “I have an idea, and I think ye will agree it is a good one, but I will need yer help. And before ye ask, it is about me playin’ a proper host to and protector of me best friend’s sister.”

“Wonderful, then ye may speak freely,” she said with a flourish of the hand as she picked up her wine with the other.

“Nan, ye plan to have Caitlin’s welcome feast in the next few days, aye?”

“Aye,” she said. “It is in preparation now.”

“Good. I had the thought that perhaps we could turn the feast into both a welcome for her as well as a funeral feast for Seamus. Since we cannae recover his body, we cannae have a burial, but there could be a ceremony with a priest and then a feast afterward. What say ye?”

His grandmother looked at him as if he’d gone mad, and he worried that he’d been too eager to make Caitlin happy. That he’d overstepped and thought up a foolish plan that would only embarrass her.

“Lucas, what have ye done with me grandson?” she asked, a smile slowing creeping onto her features.

“What do ye mean?”

“I mean, the surly grandson who dinnae want anythin’ to dae with the lass besides offer her a home and give her to me as a companion. This is true kindness, Lad. I’m proud of ye.”

Lucas looked down at his food, never very comfortable when anyone gave him genuine praise. To himself, he was only flawed. And yet a little part of him sparked into life. A bit of pride.

“So, ye think we can do it? Is there time?”

“Aye,” Nan replied. “I will handle everythin’ to dae with the feast and the plannin’ inside the Castle. Ye must collect the priest, her friends from the village, of course, and make the preparations for the funeral. Ye have time for this?” she asked, and he knew she was testing him.

“Aye, the skirmish has been sorted for now, and Archie will continue training the men to be prepared for anythin’ new.” He still hadn’t discovered who the men were who’d tried to attack them, but he was glad that no others had waited on the lonely path for him on his way to the border a few days before. “I want to be here for the feast. I want to have a funeral for me best friend. It is nae entirely selfless, ye ken.”

“Och, posh, I ken what ye are tryin’ to dae, Lad, and ye cannae escape me bein’ proud of ye. I ken Caitlin will appreciate it. What I ken of her.”

Lucas started to eat, not saying anything back. He was thinking about the plans for the funeral. He would send his men in the early morning to bring back the women who helped Caitlin in the village, and he would go himself to the church in the valley and organize the preparations with the priest. He wanted to have it all done tomorrow so that when the feast came in two days’ time, it would be a very great surprise.

“Let me ask ye somethin’, Lad,” his grandmother began, but Lucas sighed.

“Go on then. I ken ye willnae stop even if I wanted ye to.”

“Of course nae. I’ve had me fill in life of holdin’ back. Me husband is dead now, so I may dae as I please. I want ye to tell me what happened that afternoon when ye rode out with Caitlin to the sea. I could only see the two of ye for a little while, and then ye were too far by the water for me to see anythin’.

Lucas’ fist tightened around his cup as his Nan spoke. “What dae ye mean what happened? Nothin’ happened. I was only daein’ what ye asked, nay forced, us to dae.”

She didn’t seem convinced. “Ye were gone quite a while, and when I saw her again later, she seemed a little flushed, unwilling to speak too much about it. She tried to avoid the subject for a time.”

“We rode, and we spoke, Nan. That is all. Ye must end this foolish matchmakin’ of yers. I am sure that while I was gone, she was happy. She felt free to dae what she pleased instead of fearin’ that she might be stuck with me in some uncomfortable situation again.” His light mood at the discussion of his plan for the funeral had now plummeted. “I daenae ken why ye wish to displease me so, Nan.”

“Never that, Lucas.” Her voice was soft and kind, and it made Lucas look at her. “I would never want ye to be unhappy, me lad. We have been through quite a bit, ye and I. But this is our chance to be happy again. It is our time. Every enemy is now behind us. Gone. And I ken in the deep part of me heart that there is somethin’ special about this lass. Ye daenae have to believe me now, but trust me; ye will understand it soon enough. Ye will see it too.”

Lucas swallowed hard as he listened to his grandmother’s words. She began speaking of something else, but his mind was fixed on her words.

What if Nan, I have already seen it, and now I am afraid I will never unsee it?

Caitlin woke the next morning feeling warm and rested. She looked up at the canopy over her bed for a little while before she suddenly realized it was light outside. And yet she felt like she’d slept for hours upon hours. Swinging herself out of bed, she met Arla just coming in through the door with her buckets.

“Yer awake! Good. The Lady was worried ye might be ill and thought we should send for the healer. But ye’ve been busy the last few days, and ye’ve had a lot on yer mind, Lass. Leave her in bed, said I, and now, I come to ye in the mornin’ to help ye with yer ablutions.”

“Mornin’?” Caitlin stammered. “It is mornin’? My goodness, I must have slept for at least twelve hours.”

“Quite right about that. Clearly ye needed it. The sleep has brought a warmth to yer cheek and a sparkle to yer eye!” Arla patted her arm and lifted up the bucket she’d carried in. “I will bring more for a bath, and then we will get ye ready for the day, Lass.”

Arla busied herself with preparing the bath while Caitlin went to the window, shocked at how bright the day was already. But she did feel better. Lucas had been right to put her to bed, but she felt guilty not attending dinner.

“Was Lottie terribly upset that I wasnae at dinner?”

“Nae at all, Lass!” Arla said, heaving her second steaming bucket into the bath. “Ye mustnae worry about that. Ye are meant to be like family, and so ye can dae as ye please. Come, undress, and step into the bath afore it grows cold.”

She sprinkled rose petals into the water while Caitlin undressed. As she stepped in, the beautiful scent of roses reached her nose.

“Och, I dae hope that Paige willnae be upset about ye takin’ her rose petals.”

“Upset? Why should she be?” Arla asked with a puzzled look.

“Well, the other day, she seemed upset when Colin and I were in the garden, lookin’ at the roses. I thought perhaps she needed them for somethin’ special.”

With a hearty laugh, Arla shook her head. “Nay. This is what the petals are for. She lets the maids come and take them as they need.” Arla winked at her. “I suspect Miss Paige doesnae like havin’ a bonnie lass about.”

Heaving herself off her knees, Arla smiled down at Caitlin. “Get cleaned up, and I’ll be back in a little while to help ye dress.”

“Thank ye, Arla,” Caitlin called as she sank into the water.

Once she was downstairs, she stepped outside to take her usual walk around the castle, Fallow instantly at her heels, having gotten used to the habit.

“Good morn’ to ye, Lad,” she said, ruffling his ears as he barked with delight.

The day was chilly albeit bright, and with the wind on her face, Caitlin smiled. After her rest and her admission of her sadness about Seamus, she felt like a little weight was being lifted from her shoulders.

It would take time, but bit by bit she could let a piece of her grief go, however tiny. She knew that Seamus would hate it if he found her sad for the rest of her days, even though right then, it felt like that was very possible.

As she rounded the back of the castle, she spotted a figure walking toward her.

“Lottie,” she said, smiling as the old woman approached her and took her arm.

“Me dear, the servants told me of yer habit to walk in the mornings with Fallows, and I thought I would join ye. Paige thinks it a fine idea to get the limbs movin’ and the blood flowin’. It will help these blasted hands of mine.”

Lottie held up one hand, and Caitlin noticed that they did look slightly swollen. “Dae they give ye very great pain?”

“Only at times. It depends. But I willnae be stopped when time comes to dance at yer feast.”

“That is good, Lottie,” Caitlin smiled as they continued their stroll. “It is soon, is it nae. I hope me letter will reach me friends in time.”

“I have made sure the messenger was sent hastily on his way, me dear. Ye willnae be disappointed.”

“Thank ye. Ye have been so kind. I am afraid that I am nae very good with crowds, however. After losing me sight so long ago, I have lived and spoken with so few people. I am afraid to embarrass ye.”

Lottie threw back her head and laughed, the sound as bright and cheerful as sunshine. “Lucas had it right. Ye are the perfect companion for me, me dear. Ye are endlessly entertainin’!”

Frowning, Caitlin cocked her head to the side. “What dae ye mean?” She wasn’t aware that she’d anything funny.

“Ye could never embarrass me. First, ye daenae ken what stock I hail from, nor what me husband and children were like. However, that is little matter. Ye are kind, and kindness is never embarrassing. Daenae fash yerself about yer shyness, Lass. I am sure with a few cups of wine, ye will be dancin’ and laughin’ with the rest of them.”

“I hope so. Thank ye for walkin’ with me,” Caitlin said.

“Aye, it is nay trouble. I dae enjoy it. The breeze is quite refreshin’.”

“Lottie, might ye tell me somethin’?”

“Of course. Tell me whatever ye like. We are to be a family of a sort, after all.”

A little warmth blossomed in her heart when she heard that.

She asked, “I dinnae get a chance to see Lucas to ask about the skirmishes. Is everythin’ all right?”

“Aye, I believe so, for now. I daenae ken that much either. But I think it had somethin’ to do with a clan on the other side. There were a few farmers fightin’ about the border, as I suspected. Weapons and the like. The English were too slow to come and solve it, and so me grandson had to go. As he should. ‘Tis his land, anyway.”

“Quite right. Well, I am glad he is returned all well and in one piece.”

“How dae ye ken that?” Lottie asked, her eyes sparkling wickedly.

Caitlin blushed instantly. “I did see him briefly. He passed me when I was in the library. It was he who took me to bed, told me to rest.”

Lottie turned, facing Caitlin with a broad smile. “Me grandson took ye to bed, did he?”

“Nay! I mean aye, but—” Caitlin was stammering. “It was only because I was upset, about me brother. He thought I should rest. He was very kind, in truth.” Caitlin pressed her lips together, not wanting to say anymore.

When she said it aloud, it did sound as though Lucas had done something untoward. When in fact, he’d done quite the opposite. She’d been surprised at how kind and gentle he’d been.

With a soft chuckle, Lottie pulled Caitlin closer, and they kept walking. “I am glad to hear that. Despite what he may think of himself, the boy has goodness in him. I have seen it many times, especially when he was a boy. But he likes to hide it now, now that he is grown and a laird. Perhaps it is somethin’ a man likes to dae. What was yer brother like when it was just ye and he? I met him here many times, but one is nae the same with others as they are with their family.”

Caitlin thought back. “Me brother was the kindest soul there was, even if he was tryin’ to play father to me often. He felt bad that we’d lost our parents, and he wanted to protect me in every way he kenned how. He never had a harsh word for me, even if we were upset with each other.” Smiling, she thought of her brother’s face.

Soon, she knew it would fade from memory, but for now, she could hold onto it.

“Are ye nae a lucky lass?” Lottie said. “Now, I hope we can be just as good a family to ye, love.”

Ye have already begun.